Re. Anti Bush-Obama"What a cold hearted thing to do. Panhandlers have
a right to panhandle period."

If what they are doing is a safety
hazard, then they should be prevented from doing so. It is not cold hearted,
just wise. I saw a lot of these middle-of-the-road panhandlers in California,
and they did cause traffic problems. Do we wait until someone is killed or
injured before taking action. There are plenty of places these people can go to
get food, etc. if that's what they need.

It's not cold hearted. There are a lot of resources that people can use.
They don't seem to be in too much need when they stand there with their
"cold and hungry sign" while they talk on their cell phones.

I'm not sure the panhandlers want food or shelter, or even a job.
Panhandling apparently is a job, a very lucrative job, especially in a community
that is taught to not judge, but be generous to those in need. These folks are
probably making a couple hundred dollars on a good day, tax free. It's
easy money preying on the generosity of others, something for nothing.

Indeed, it's a frustrating time for those out of work over a long period
of time, stripped of dignity and self- worth, or perhaps enchained by addiction,
to a point that they will stand all day in traffic to earn their income.

As long as people keep the revenue stream alive, they will be there to
collect it.

Someone needs to legislate a variation of the no
loitering law, so these folks can be removed from our dangerous intersections,
and steered to shelters and employment resource centers, where they can seek to
better their situations.

If you want to increase bad behavior all you have to do is reward it. In the
past decade we saw very little begging in Utah except for down town SLC. Now it
is all along the Wasatch Front, and will only get worse until winter when they
move back to warmer climates. People can give if they want, but it will only
make the situation worse, and be of little help to those in need. There are
plenty of local organizations that actually help those in need. Give to them,
and give generously.

Giving a gun to a man says nothing
about what he'll do with it. Giving a gun to someone just because they beg
is irresponsible.

If you prefer, take someone grocery shipping. If
you prefer to be safer, point them to a facility for help and serve such
facilities when you can.

But just giving someone money without
helping them use it wisely is like giving a drug addict money for rehab and
trusting them to spend it wisely. I believe trust is earned. It's fine if
you don't, but the record shows that trusting drug addicts doesn't
usually have positive results.

The effective thing to do is to serve,
not to give more power to enable their problems then walk away. Irresponsible
charity isn't charity, it's harm. The charitable branches of The
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have proven this time and time
again: Prudent help is best. It's never popular, especially with those
asking for help. But it works.

Maybe we ought to teach others to
rethink the popular definition of charity if we are to help them be self
sufficient.

I was waiting for my daughter who was shopping in a store in this area of
American Fork. As she was getting in the car, a panhandler came and stood by the
business in front of us. After he took out his smartphone he looked around,
folded his cardboard sign in half, and then tucked it under his coat.

My daughter and I commented that here he was panhandling because he was in
dire straits, and yet he had a nicer phone than either of us. The funniest part
was that he was standing right by the Verizon Wireless store when he did it.

Also, there are multiple "Hiring Now" signs by businesses in
that same area.

Those who commented above forgot to mention all the panhandlers were driving
Cadillacs.

I really like how "I know it. I Live it. I Love
it." brought guns into the narrative. I had a feeling someone would declare
that lots and lots of guns would solve all the problems felt by both citizens
and panhandlers.

I got accosted by one of these guys about a week ago. I had the truck and a
loaded trailer, and I told dude to get in. Surprisingly, he did, I guess
thinking I'd give him money. I moved onward, and he asked where we were
going. "Williston, North Dakota", I answered truthfully. "I know a
guy there who will hire you. He needs lots of help. Good pay". Buddy bailed
at the next light like you wouldn't believe. My offer was real,
there's work out there. But it's really work. I didn't think this
guy wanted a hand up. Most of them don't. But that's what I had to
offer. Life, dignity, a chance to move ahead. But I didn't have a handout
for him. Unfortunately, that's all he wanted.

My suggestion is to offer to take them to a job to actually work doing something
for the money. See how quickly they will leave. For many this is a business. It
is often difficult to tell the difference from the ones that actually need the
help. That is why I suggest offering them work for pay to see how serious they
are.

“Citizens don't like being stuck at a light and have someone approach
them,” said city administrator Craig Whitehead, “and they have had
some very aggressive ones who have come up and looked in the window.”

It may also be true that citizens don't like being out of work,
hungry, trying to care for young children or being forced to beg for assistance
that most other wealthy nations provide as a matter of social responsiblity.
This group seems to have escaped Mr Whitehead's expressed concern for his
fellow citizens, or "brothers" as they are sometimes called. When i
think of the sayings and teachings of Jesus in the legendary history of
Christianity, i think of him joining the panhandlers on the far side of the
concrete barriers raised in this town to protect some citizens, some brothers
and sisters, from having to see visible signs of the inadequacies of a
capitalist economy as managed in the United States. Makes me think, too, of
Woody Guthrie's Depression-era song about avoiding California if you
don't have the dough-re-mi.

Wonder where these beggars park
their Caddies while raking in the big money?

Some of you are cold hearted people.Many of these "panhandlers"
are no different than you. Life has played them a bad hand and they're
doing nothing that not a one of you would do were you in a similar situation.
No place to go, to sleep, nothing to eat, no visible future for them.
Seriously, does your religious background really tell you to react they way
I'm reading?Stop and give them $20.00. Everyone one of you in
American Fork. Make a difference on someones life. You'll be surprised
how good it feels.Safety hazard.....sheesshhhhh.

This is one of those articles with good points, such as errecting barriers to
open up traffic. And bad points, such as the Mayor of American Fork wishing away
panhandlers from his city, and pawning them off to local Bishops and charities.
As for those in need, I tried to follow my inner voice and help those who
"really" need help. Sometimes it's passing them some money,
sometimes bringing them food if there closeby my home. However, there are those
who are professional pandhandlers. The past few summers there's been a
husband and wife team working our local area with there hands heldout, and they
can be found in different parts of the city working a fresh area. The inner
voice always say's ignore them, and they look too good for the part.

Money to panhandlers is almost always facilitating some sort of substance
addiction rather than truly helping them dig out of their predicament. Some
people are addicted to "freebies"--maybe they should use their time to
look for a job.

Give money to the homeless shelters, or buy food gift
cards and have some on hand to give out to those who you deem as truly indigent.
The rest are just scamming you.

I suspect that many
who are opposed to panhandling -- as am I -- give generously to charities that
provide services to people in need. That is hardly cold hearted. What is cold
hearted is to encourage behavior that does nothing to benefit the individual or
society. It's tough to ignore them; but, it is the right thing to do.

Ironically, as I was driving by that same location with my wife on
Saturday, I commented how much of a safety issue I felt it was. The island on
which they stood could not be more than two feet wide. When the light is green,
traffic flows heavily and rapidly through the intersection. How tragic it would
be if if one of those beggers stumbled and fell off the island in front of an
innocent driver and a life was taken. What if the car had small children in it
as many do at that intersection.

Those of you who are so
"noble", why don't you give up your job to a begger so they
won't have to beg.

Pan handling is nothing more, or less, than a business. Their product is you
feeling good about yourself, and the beauty of it is that you can pay as much as
you want for that product. I have no need to purchase from them. I get mine from
donating to many other charities. They should be required to purchase and
maintain a panhandlers licence and adhear to a code of conduct. Those are things
that the city can do, legally.

Back in the 70s and 80s, my sister in
law was a successful legal assitant in San Francisco. She earned what would be
the equivelent of $80.00 per hour in today's money. However, when her
spending money got low, she would put on some scruffy clothing, get her
cardboard sign, and head for Goden Gate Park, where she would make more money
per hour than working, all tax free. She didn't do it every day, but was
suprised at how easy it was.